Many people are struggling with mental health issues as a result of the COVID-19 global
pandemic, which has turned our lives upside down. We’ve all struggled to find a “new normal.”
It has been more difficult for those who have lost their jobs and only source of income as a
result of this crisis, but it has not been smooth sailing for anyone. If you are dealing with mental
health issues as a result of this health crisis, know that you are not alone and that help is available.
If you struggle with depression, digestive issues, chronic constipation, cognitive dysfunction, or stress-related health issues, like headaches, you may want to read this article, as I’m going to share with you how to manage these problems through stimulating your Vagus Nerve (VN).
Read MoreSince we celebrate Valentine’s Day in February, it is a perfect time to learn how relationships are affected by our hormones. Oxytocin is a potent peptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus and secreted into the bloodstream by the posterior pituitary gland. It is the hormone of love, bonding, and connection.
Read MoreWhen you think of starchy foods, you probably think of rice, potatoes and pasta, which are all carbohydrate rich foods. Starches are long chains of glucose that must be broken down in the digestive tract. However, some starches are resistant to digestion, hence the name “resistant starch.” This resistant type of starch acts more like a soluble fiber, which has significant health benefits.
Read MoreDid you overindulge during the holiday season? Start the new year with a healthy detox! Many people associate the concept of “detox” with detoxification from alcohol or drugs, but detoxification is a function of your autonomic nervous system, something your body is programed to do on an ongoing basis. Our hard-working livers are working overtime because we live in a toxic world. Simply because we are inhabitants of the earth, we are exposed to naturally occurring compounds such as lead, mercury, radon, formaldehyde, benzene, and cadmium. Toxicity may manifest in the body as joint pain, fatigue, weight gain, or neurological dysfunction.
Read MoreMany of us have dealt with the frustration of not being able to shed weight when we are eating well and exercising regularly. It seems unfair that some people can drop weight effortlessly while others can't lose it despite doing everything right. The problem may lie in how well your metabolism is functioning, and there are a variety of things that disrupt the body’s normal metabolic functions, creating “Metabolic Chaos.”
Read MoreRestorative sleep is critical for optimal health. Because cellular repair takes place when you are in stage-3 deep sleep, the inability to get adequate restorative sleep accelerates the aging process and can wreak havoc with your physical, mental and emotional health. Your sense of well-being may suffer if you fail to get uninterrupted quality sleep that allows for a minimum of four complete sleep cycles in 24 hours.
Read MoreHave you ever found yourself trying to resolve a conflict with someone only to find that the situation turns out to be worse rather than better? It is frustrating, isn’t it? The ability to communicate effectively is very important not only in intimate family relationships but in work and social relationships as well. Your efforts at conflict resolution will be more effective if you incorporate these principles of respectful dialogue.
Read MoreI attended a workshop at Deepak Chopra’s center, where they asked participants to focus on the question, “Who am I?” The purpose of this exercise was to encourage people to focus on their authentic self, the soul that lies deep within us. Dr. Phil, in his book, Self Matters, defines the authentic self as “the real, true, genuine substance of who you are…the composite of all your skills, talents, and wisdom” rather than “who you believe others expect you to be.”
Read MoreIn the 1980s, the dietary guidelines recommended by the United States government were horribly misguided and actually promoted ill health. Americans were told to eat 6-11 servings of grains and keep their dietary fat intake to a minimum because consuming fat would make them fat. As a result, Americans developed a fat-phobia and made every effort to eat a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet because this was the nutrition plan we were told would allow us to maintain heart health and stay fit and trim. This turned out to be far from the truth, as research has shown that this low-fat craze resulted in substantially higher rates of obesity and Type II Diabetes.
Read MoreHow Sweet It Isn’t!
If you’re looking for an inflammatory food that will wreak havoc with your gut, impair your cognitive function, create pain in your joints, age your skin prematurely, activate dormant cancer cells, and cause insulin resistance that will lead to diabetes and dementia, SUGAR promises to do all of those things for you!
Read MoreMost of us experience food cravings from time to time. For some, it is a daily occurrence. The first step to managing those pesky cravings that sabotage our efforts at maintaining healthy dietary habits is to understand the origins of the cravings. This will help you understand why we have the overwhelming yearning for food and provide solutions to dealing with both physiological and emotional cravings.
Read MoreAre you wondering why you are not able to lose weight or why your energy levels are diminishing?
You have undoubtedly heard that High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is not good for your health. However, most people don’t understand why HFCS is so harmful to their health. Simply put, it causes your body to store fat and robs you of energy. I want to help you understand why this happens so you can begin to make smarter choices for your health. HFCS is processed differently than cane sugar in your body, and regular consumption of this product can cause problems that can diminish your quality of life as you age.
Read MoreThe Functional Medicine philosophy is that food is medicine. Functional medicine specialists believe that many medical maladies can be treated by merely improving one’s diet.
Read MoreMost of us know that drinking water is good for our health, but you may not be aware of the consequences of insufficient hydration. Water is essential in our body because 85% of our brain, 80% of our blood and 70% of our muscles are composed of water. Consuming the right amount of water each day can actually speed up your metabolic rate and help to curb overeating to help with weight management.
Read MoreWhat do irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, colitis, Chron’s disease, fibromyalgia, asthma, systemic candidiasis, autoimmune diseases, mood disorders, dementia, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis have in common? They are all inflammatory diseases that may originate with a condition known as "leaky gut syndrome."
Read MoreNutrients are a very important variable in your recovery from the trauma of surgery. There are some supplements you may want to consider taking before and after surgery to hasten your recovery and optimize your outcome. You should always check with your physician before taking any supplements to ensure there are not any contraindications with medications you are taking.
Read MoreStatistics on prescription antidepressant use are alarming. An October 2011 report by the National Center for Health Statistics, reported a 400% increase in antidepressant use over the previous two decades. In addition, the 2011 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported that 1 in 10 people take antidepressant medication.
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